23 Feb 2025

Kasane Mini Stadium project by Turf Botswana is expected to commence in March following termination of contract  of initial contractor due to poor performance.

The scope of work for the project entailed design and installation of a football turf and running track of which upon termination, only the sub-base and base layers for the football pitch were complete while there were some remaining works on the running track.

Speaking during a tour of the mini stadium on Friday, Minister of Sport and Arts Jacob Kelebeng stated that through consultations between his ministry and Chobe District Council, a specialist contractor was identified to complete remaining works.

He stated that the former contractor had discovered a hard rock under the surface, which resulted in the need for blasting activities, hence causing delays.

The minister stated that blasting of the rock caused damage to properties nearby in Kgaphamadi ward, which caused disputes with community members, adding that it was imperative that when activities like blasting take place residents, should be warned and compensated accordingly.

He said the project was expected to be completed by the end of year, which would accord Chobe residents a proper sporting facility that would host recreational activities.

“Chobe is sitting on a quadpoint, hence strategically positioned to be a host of a regional sporting or arts spectacle. So with a mini stadium, all these will be possible,” he said.

Kelebeng highlighted that Botswana was admired globally for producing Olympic stars, which prompted the country to up its game and build proper sports facilities that would attract the world.

Moreover, he said Botswana like the rest of the world evolved and adopted sport tourism as a means to diversify economy by attracting spectators and participants who inject money into a country through sport and in the same vein market that country on a global space.

The minister said a mini stadium would be a platform for unearthing and harnessing talent also serving as a motivation for Chobe youngsters to develop a passion for sports.

For his part, MP for Chobe Simasiku Mapulanga emphasised thorough inspections and geotechnical assessments of construction projects were undertaken to ensure proper scoping of work.

The assessments, he said, could have revealed that there was a rock sitting underneath even before contract was awarded so that a proper contractor with expertise was hired.

He said currently, Chobe Regional Football Association lacked proper facilities for games, which would be a thing of the past once the mini stadium was completed.

Furthermore, he said the stadium would promote sport tourism upon completion and cultivate local economic activity, “Chobe is currently hosting FNB Kazungula Bridge Marathon and if this mini stadium was completed like initially planned, the stadium could be a start and finish point for the race.” ENDS